The Beginning of a Beautiful Relationship

I started this blog at the insistence of my wife. Frankly, I do not have much time for writing and documenting things and events. If I factor in the time I spend at my work place and run-training into my 24-hour day, I am only left with a few precious hours which I reserve for much needed sleep and an hour or two for shower and a quick meal WHILE catching up with Wifey on the daily happenings. Then, it is off to work again!!

Be that as it may, I agree with Wifey’s reasoning on the benefits of starting a blog to record all the races which I am to participate in from now on. I agree that it will be great for me, in the near future,   to be able to reminisce on those good times I had in all these races by re-living them through the postings in my blog.

So, with that in mind, I started this blog – which is a little late, as I have participated in some very amazing races in the past 12 months, not to mention the 2 Big Ones back in 2006/7 and The Injury in 2007!!

To those who often question me : “Why do you torture yourself like that – by running such a long distance in such horrendous terrains?” My answer to them has always been : I want to challenge my own limit. To experience the camaraderie among my fellow competitors. To see and be at the amazing locations where the races are held. For the Adventure, Pain and Suffering that await me :-)

This Blog is entitled ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE because I believe very strongly that Where There Is A Will, There Is A Way. There are many times during the races when my body feels like giving up, only to be urged to keep going by my mind.

In the many races which I have participated in, and in particular, the self-supported long distance races (mostly 250km, where participants have to carry their own daily essentials like food, drinks and clothing), I have very often felt myself entering into a metaphysical world during those long stretches of trail, where I was alone with Nature, with no other runners in sight. Now, you might think I am crazy, but I am going to share these unusual experiences with you, as best as words will allow me.

When this happens (I am using the present tense because it still does), I will feel my soul, who has obviously given up due to exhaustion, momentarily leaves my body in a stubborn stomp, refusing to work together with my body to continue the race. With arms folded and lips curled, this stubborn Soul will then watch the poor Body continuing to run like clockwork, challenging the Body to give up, in the mistaken belief that the Body, as an empty shell without the Soul, may not last long. However, when the Body keeps on going at the insistence of the mysterious Mind, the Soul is forced to give up ‘giving up’ and re-enter the Body to continue on the race.

Weird, is it not? But true. In those long stretches of trail when one is running alone, be it through a hot scorching desert, a wet rainforest or a misty mountain, weird things can happen to the Mind, Body and Soul !!  Trust me...I speak from experience :-) If you have a strong enough will to carry on with the race, your body will somehow carry on. The Mind always wins !! All Things Are therefore, Possible.